Kim Yu-Na knows pressure. She sees it everywhere she looks: in her reflection in a thousand camera lenses, in the corner of every South Korean flag she autographs, in the expanding knot of frenetic Korean reporters and photographers drawn to her so millions more at home might know her every word and thought.

Kim Yu-na practically sprinted through the short program and away from a strong field at the world figure skating championships on Friday. With coach Brian Orser mimicking her every move by the sideboards, the two-time Grand Prix champion from South Korea built a stunning 8.2-point lead over Canada's Joannie Rochette.

Before the 1988 Winter Olympics, much was made of the impending "Battle of the Brians," matching U.S. skater Brian Boitano with Canadian Brian Orser. Boitano had the skate of his life to edge Orser for the gold medal at Calgary and hasn't stopped skating since.